Hundreds of St. Mary's College of Maryland students learned this week that mold would force them to spend the rest of the semester living on a 300-foot cruise ship, docked beside campus on the St. Mary's River.

About 350 students had already moved to local hotels or reconfigured rooms last week because of mold in two dorms, which the Southern Maryland college blamed on damp conditions from Hurricane Irene and persistent rains. But on Tuesday, the college announced another move, this time to the Sea Voyager.

"I don't think the administrative staff realize just how much stress this is putting on the students," wrote displaced student Nigel Simmons. "We just got over last weekend's 'move tomorrow' nonsense, and now we go through the exercise again to move to accommodations that are even smaller and have less facilities? Is this saving money — because it's doing nothing for half of these 1st year students who are trying to settle into life and studying in a new environment."

"Why weren't the students given a say in the move?" asked another displaced student, Zia Frazier, who added that her grades were suffering because of the chaos.

When we first learned of the mold and experts advised we move the students as a precaution, we went with the hotel plan, Chip Jackson, associate vice president of planning and facilities, said in a statement Tuesday evening. We are running into transportation issues, with heavy traffic on Route 235, and other logistical issues as students try to get their academic work done. This way, students will be back on campus. This will improve the situation for them.

A total of 350 students were relocated from the two residence halls. Many were sent to three hotels. Others remained on campus. Some were assigned to vacant rooms. Third students were added to rooms that normally house two and fifth students moved into four-person townhomes on campus.

Sounds like quite a headache. It's too bad they had to relocate twice.

Parents are upset - understandably - that they have had to miss work and make 2 trips to help their student relocate from the original dorm to the hotel and now to the ship. It seems as if the college is not helping student who do not have cars to move? I'm surprised they did not provide assistance with the logistics of moving twice.

Further reading - looks like classes are cancelled Friday and Monday so everyone can pitch in with the move. Lots of concerns re computer access on the ship - kids (intoxicated or not) falling off the ship - how bad weather (storm, hurricane) might affect the ship, etc. Quite a predicament.

Tulane University rented a cruise ship to house staff and workmen after Katrina (but while NOLA was without power and water). Made money on the deal, since many NOLA businesses needed housing for their employees too.

University of New Orleans could anchor a cruise ship within walking distance of the campus :-).

As small as dorm rooms tend to be, they are regal compared to most cruise ship staterooms. We've done 4 to a stateroom (2 beds and 2 bunks) for a week or two at a time and it's not all that comfortable for longer stays.

St. Marys IS on the water and the walk won't be much different than going to the freshman parking lot. And once you are on the dock with power and cable, internet access should not be hard to put together. Small rooms? Yup. An adventure? You bet!

I predict that all the students who spend time on the cruise ship will remember it fondly as one of the most interesting experiences they had--even if (or perhaps especially if) there are a lot of inconveniences.

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